Stalk-cutter.



J. W. SMITH.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 1, 1914.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

2 SEBETSSHEET 1.

lnventor,

Witnesses Attorneys J. W. SMITH.

STALK CUTTER 1 1 1 1 925, Patented Sept. 29, 1914. I

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT onmon.

JOHN WESLEY SMITH, OF HUTCHINSON, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR UF' ENE-HALF TO ENOCHM. RAMSEY, OF H'UTCHINSON,

KANSAS.

STALK-GUTTER.

To all whom it may concern:

it known that 1, JOHN W. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residingat Hutchinson, in the county of Reno and State of Kansas, have inventeda new and useful Stalk-Cutter, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to stalk cutters, one of its objects being toprovide a simple and compact machine particularly designed for cuttingalong three rows of stalks simultaneously.

further object is to provide cutters capable of moving upwardly anddownwardly independently of each other thus to conform to any unevennessof the ground over which the machine is traveling.

Another object is to provide simple and efficient means whereby all ofthe cutters may be lifted simultaneously out of engagement with theground.

A further object is to provide simple and efficient means for attachingthe blades of the cutters to their holders.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and'ln the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without dcparting from the spirit of theinvention.

To the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2is a sectlon on line Alt-18 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line C-DFig. 1. Fig. l is an enlarged sectlon through a portion of one of theheads of a cutter and the blade secured therein. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the cross head of the adjusting mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detailview of one of the cutting blades. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on lineFi-F Fig. 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a wheelsupported platform from which depends a transversely extending frame 2which extends laterally beyond the sides of the platform and is heldagainst movement relative to said platform by braces 3 extending fromthe front end portion of the platform downwardly to the bottom of theframe 2. The bottom portion signed to drag cular heads 9 likewisemounted Specificationof Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 29, 1914Application filed June 1, 1914.

Serial N 0. 842,174.

of frame 2 is in the form of a rod or shaft on which are pivotallymounted three similar U-shaped frames 4.- extending rearwardly and theends of each frame 4: which are mounted on the lower part of frame 2 arespaced apart by means of sleeves 5. One of these sleeves has a hookedfork 6 extending downwardly therefrom and dealong the ground for thepurpose of straightenin out stalks to be cut. This straightening fork islocated preferably equi-dista-nt from the sides of frame 4:.

J curnaled in each frame t is a transverse shaft 7 and mounted forrotation onthis shaft is a sleeve 8 interposed between and eitherintegral with or separate from cirfor rotation on the shaft. Each ofthese circular heads is preferably in the form of a solid metal diskforming a weight and provided with radial slots 10 in its periphery. Theslots in the two heads aline so as to constitute seats for the endportions of cutting blades 1]., these blades being held in the slots bymeans of fasteningscrews 12 insertible into threaded openings 13. Theseopenings extend into the peripheries of the heads 9 and at-right anglesto the blades 11 so that, when in position, they extend the screws arethrough openings in the blades. The blades 11 do not extend inwardly tothe core 8 but, instead, spaces are formed between the blades and thecore as shown in Fig. 7. Thus there is no danger of the cutters becomingclogged by material which might otherwise accumulate between the innerend portions of the blades. Instead any such material will drop throughthe openings formed between the inner edges of the blades and the core.

As shown in Fig. 2, all of the cutters aline. Each of the frames 4: hasa rearwardly extending stud 14, these studs extending through slots 15formed within a connecting beam 16, located back of the frames. Byproviding these slots 15 which extend upwardly within the beam, thestuds 14 can work up and down, thus permitting the frames 4 to haveindependent up and down movement.

Swiveled upon the platform 1 at a point above the center of the beam 16is an up- .wardly extending adjusting screw 17 provided with a handwheel 18 or the like whereby it can be rotated readily. This screwextends through a feed nut 19 formed within or secured to the centerportion of a cross head 20 arranged transversely above the platform.Hangers 21 extend downwardly from the ends of the cross head and areconnected to the beam 16. Thus it will be seen that by rotating thescrew 17, beam 16 can be raised or lowered, thereby either lifting thestalk cutters out of contact with the ground or lowering them to activepositions.

When the device herein described is drawn forward the hooked forks 6will gather the stalks and draw them into the paths of the respectivecutters. The blades of these cutters are held tightly against thesurface of the ground by the heads 9 which, by reason of their size andthe material of which they are made, constitute eficient weights. Thusthe blades will be caused to cut downwardly through the stalks in thepaths thereof. Should the surface of the ground be uneven, frames 4: canmove upwardly or downwardly independently of each other.

What is claimed is 1. A stalk cutter including a wheel supportedplatform, a transversely extending series of separately pivoted frames,a cross head, means upon the platform for adjusting the cross headupwardly and downwardly, a cross beam, hangers connecting said crosshead to the cross beam, slidable connections between the cross beam andthe respective pivoted frames, and a revoluble cutter mounted withineach of the said frames.

2. A stalk cutter including a wheel supported platform, a transverselyextending series of separately pivoted frames, a cross head, means uponthe platform for adjusting the cross head upwardly and downwardly, across beam, hangers connecting said cross head to the cross beam,slidable connections between the cross beam and the respective pivotedframes, a shaft within each of the pivoted frames, a cutter mounted forrotation on the shaft, and means in front of each of the cutters forstraightening stalks into the path of the cutter.

3. A stalk cutter including a wheel supported platform, a transverselyextending series of frames mounted under the platform, said frames beingpivotally connected at their front ends to the platform, an upwardlyextending adjusting screw mounted for rotation on the platform, a crosshead engaged and supported thereby, a cross beam under the platform,hangers connecting the cross head to the cross beam, said cross beamhaving vertical slots, studs extending from the respective pivotedframes and slidably mounted in the slots, and a revoluble cutter mountedfor rotation in each of the pivoted frames.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J OHN WESLEY SMITH.

Witnesses:

M. A. Knssnnn, CHAs. MoGnnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of .Patents. Washington, D. G.

